U.S. Senate Democrats hold off on new Iran vote -for now

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Several Democratic U.S.
senators said on Tuesday they would give the Obama
administration at least two more months to reach a nuclear deal
with Iran before voting for tighter economic restrictions,
easing the threat that Congress might override President Barack
Obama's veto of a new sanctions bill.

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, co-author of the legislation
that would tighten sanctions on Iran if there is no deal by the
end of June, said he and other Democratic senators would not
back passage of the bill until after March 24, and only in the
absence of a framework agreement with Tehran.

Obama said a vote for more restrictions, which are strongly
supported by Republican lawmakers, could upset negotiations
under way, and pledged to veto any bill imposing new sanctions
while talks are ongoing.

"Many of my Democratic colleagues and I have sent a letter
to the president, telling him we will not support passage of the
Kirk-Menendez bill on the Senate floor until after March 24, and
only if there is no political framework agreement," Menendez
said at a Senate Banking Committee hearing.

He and his Democratic colleagues "remain hopeful" for a
diplomatic solution, but Menendez said they are "deeply
skeptical" about Iran's commitment to making concessions that
would show its nuclear program is peaceful by the deadline set
by international negotiators.

The United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and,
Russia have been negotiating with Iran, and all agreed to step
up efforts to reach a political understanding by the end of
March, with a view to a full-blown deal by a self-imposed June
30 deadline.

Many U.S. lawmakers - Republicans and Democrats - have been
working to develop legislation to attract the 67 Senate votes
needed to override an Obama veto. They say they want Congress to
have a voice in the 18-month-long international negotiations
with Iran.

NEEDS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT

With Republicans holding 54 seats in the 100-member chamber,
they would need significant support from Obama's fellow
Democrats to pass legislation after a veto.

The Iran issue took on a strongly partisan tone in
Washington last week, when Republican leaders announced they had
invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address
Congress on Iran, without consulting the Obama administration or
congressional Democrats.

Netanyahu's speech is scheduled for March 3, well before the
March 24 deadline.

Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had not
seen the letter, but was amenable to Menendez's plan: "We
appreciate the recognition that our negotiators could use
additional time and space."

Menendez's office did not immediately release the names of
senators who had signed the letter to Obama. But other
Democratic members of the banking committee said they supported
delaying the plan.

"I cannot support any action that would needlessly undermine
the chances for success in this effort," Democratic Senator Joe
Donnelly said, explaining why he favored holding off the vote.

Charles Schumer, the Senate's No. 3 Democrat and a leading
voice on U.S.-Israel relations, also said he supported the plan
announced by Menendez.

Iran and the major powers are due to meet again in February
after limited progress in talks in Geneva on Jan. 18.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Bill Trott and
Gunna Dickson)